Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Zyzyfer]

The past few days, I've been trying to get a couple of classes reined in and behaving, at least giving me the dignity that most other classes do of listening to me when I say "Be quiet", and pretending to listen, even if the assignment isn't the most interesting. I asked another teacher to let the two classes know that I'd prefer for them to behave. This was all that I requested.

Today I get a return comment from the teacher. The students had a counter-complaint that I don't prepare properly for boys' classes and girls' classes. I asked her further what this is supposed to mean and she said that I have to discuss material related more to the gender of the class. She further elaborated, when I said that I didn't really understand how I could do this with such topics as "Beauty is only skin-deep" that boys want to talk about soccer, games, wrestling(I know these facts), and that I shouldn't follow the book. I pointed out that I haven't even opened a book in over 2 weeks, and I completely design my lessons on my own.

So, the message I'm basically getting is that, even though I'm at a middle school, I'm under the same principle of keeping the students happy as if I'm at a hakwon. This is really distressing me because, overall, the job's pretty decent, except for location.

I'm really at a loss for words on how to solve this situation. I know that no matter what I do, I can't make students happy, and the other Korean staff here also know this when it applies to themselves, but why can't they apply it to me? All I asked for was some behavior from a couple of classes...

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

Just bring out the whip....

[mokpochica]

I think it's pretty silly that they would want you to promote gender stereotyping in a class. I think you should teach the class topics as you deem them important for students' personal growth in the English language.

I teach at a middle school and the only thing I do as far as 'gearing things' toward a certain 'gender' (or more accurately toward a certain type of kid) is to sometimes have competetive activities as groups and to sometimes have more individual activities (competetive or not). I don't know if you have co-ed classes ( I do) but if you are teaching a co-ed class it would be ridiculous to teach a make-up class or sports class to the entire class because you would supposedly just be gearing toward half of the class.

I think you should tell the teacher that if students want to suggest a list of topics that they may do that and you can pick and choose from what is interesting to them. Probably 90% of topics are interesting to both boys and girls: Music, comics, games, writing short poems, and other activities. If you let them kids participate in planning they might feel more involved and see the difficulty that lies in the planning of a lesson as well.

[William Beckerson]

Let me tell you something that my help if you can learn to live with it.

You are the hired help. You are the aunt jemaima of this society. You have no status.

Just ride out whtever comes your way and hope that the cash comes in at the end of the month.

[Zyzyfer]

[captain kirk]

hey,i work at a hagwon. but i've noticed that the middle school students can be quite particular about what they want to study, and have suggestions. this is their 'emerging autonomy' of becoming an adult. hey, they're professional students. no teacher can please everyone. boss, korean co-workers, students, parents....it's impossible to please everyone. so in this situation the best anyone can do is reduce their personal stress by not fussing too much and putting that money in the bank.

[schwa]

I teach in a middleschool -- boys school this year, girls school the previous two -- & clearly they have different extracurricular interests, but maybe 90% of my material works the same with both. Sure, I do a bit more sports & computer game talk with boys, & stuff about singers & styles with girls, but I dont think it has anything to do with perpetuating stereotypes. I'm just looking to engage them.

If the kids think youre a bit cool, they'll bear with you through a lesson on tenses or pronouns. But maybe more importantly, anytime you can turn a lesson into a game or competition with a few interest-specific references, no one's gonna complain. It sounds like you have some room in your curriculum to play -- have some fun! Happy classes are your best retort to critical Korean teachers.

Boys are noisy. Its their nature -- bigger bodies, deeper voice boxes. But they will pay attention if theyre interested. Especially if they know they might be called on at any minute to stand up & speak to the class. I call on students randomly throughout my classes to respond to whatever, & it keeps them attentive to whats going on -- they dont want to look foolish. Some of course are off in la-la-land but gentle humor can bring around even the most recalcitrant.

You mention planning a 30-minute discussion on the history of wrestling -- well, great if you can pull it off, but do you mean discussion or mostly you talking? In my experience, a handful of kids out of 40 would be capable of a bit of konglish banter on a subject like that & the majority would tune out. How would you counter that? Getting output from all (or nearly all) the kids, ah theres the challenge.

No intention to be critical here, I'm still a student of teaching too. Open talk between teachers helps.

[Zyzyfer]

[weatherman]

[weatherman]

ESL4kids, I meant no offence and it does come as a real suprise for me to hear what you have said. I have heard rumors of these places, much like mariners of old hear about the Hesperides islands and went in search but ended in vain. I am happy for you.